“Then I want to be courted,” my voice wavers, and I watch shock fill his eyes. “I want you to do things properly this time. I – I want a date. A proper one. And – And I want flowers, like the ones people give on dates and-”

My hands are trembling as I splutter out what sounds like nonsense but feels like years of pent-up desires.

“I don’t want to be used anymore.”

Lexion’s arms wrap around me as he lifts me off my feet into the air, a grin curling his lips and making him ...